Juzi rested her chin on her fist, staring absentmindedly at her new junior.
She wasn't admiring his, admittedly, dashing looks that could put even the most handsome guys she knew to shame.
She wasn't like most girls at this school, especially a certain Hongchen sibling. Before enrolling in the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineering Academy, she was the daughter of a cook and being the daddy's girl that she was, she took an oath.
She would only marry the best chef in the world!
Many had tried courting her in the past, but none even had the qualifications. They were proud soul engineers, why would they have the time and interest to learn something as "lowly" as cooking?
This was the first time she met Huo Yuhao and her impression of him is better than anyone else she'd ever encountered, simply because he could cook.
"Senior Juzi, would you like it spicy or not?" Huo Yuhao asked.
"Hmm. Not. I'm not in the mood for a spicy meal this morning."
Huo Yuhao nodded and twirled the kitchen knife in his hand.
Juzi tilted her head, curious. "Hey, what kind of meal are you preparing?
He smirked and replied. "It's something called, Ramen. And a side of fried fishes."
"R-Ramen? This is the first I've heard of that dish." Juzi blinked. "What empire is that from?"
".....Technically speaking, it's from the Star Luo Empire," Huo Yuhao replied, pouring broth into a small pot. Juzi's expression darkened, her hands clenched tightly.
'Star...Luo? He's....'
"But only from my hometown do they make this. See, my village were pretty secluded. We were hidden deep in a forest, some ancestors of ours placed a powerful skill over our village that not even soul beasts would typically bother us. My hometown was called "village hidden in the leaves" for it," He chuckled as he chopped spring onions with rhythmic ease.
Juzi breathed out deeply, relaxing her knuckles. "....That sounds interesting, I didn't expect you to be a country bumpkin. But I guess you might be a noble or something in your village."
"Hmm. No, not really. I was raised most of my life by my mother. We lived a...not so pleasant life. Poor, cold, hungry most of the time. She worked too hard, and I was too weak to help ease her burden." Huo Yuhao's voice stayed even, calm—but hidden behind the blindfold, was pain and grief.
Juzi might not be sharpest tool, but as she was focused on his hands this entire time she had noticed a slight mistake he made when he mentioned his mother.
As a chef, one of the most fundamental rule when cooking is to have steady firm hands.
Her eyes softened, and she straightened her back.
"....She's gone, isn't she?" Juzi asked quietly.
Huo Yuhao didn't answer right away.
His hand paused mid-motion, holding a spoon over the broth, as if he were watching the reflection of someone long gone in its surface.
Then he calmly set it down.
"She died when I was still a kid," he said. "She was sick. Her health was deteriorating. The weather was particularly harsh that day. We were both pale and shivering, our firewood went out almost to midnight. I... I didn't noticed.
When I opened my eyes, I was covered entirely by our one ragged bedsheet while my mom hugged me tightly." A single tear slipped past the blindfold.
Juzi's heart tightened in her chest.
She didn't know what to say. She wasn't the comforting type.
But she understood him. That's because—
She quietly reached forward and placed her hand on his, she didn't look up. Her eyes were wet.
"....I lost my parents when I was a kid. A few years ago, my dad was killed by soldiers from the Star Luo Empire. My mom.... died from heartache after that. She tried to stay strong for me, but grief doesn't always kill you fast. Sometimes, it just chips away until there's nothing left."
Tears spilled down Juzi's cheeks before she could stop them.
Huo Yuhao's fingers tightened gently around hers.
No words. Just shared silence.
Juzi sniffed and wiped her tears. "Yuhao, do you know what my life's goal is?"
In an instant, her eyes turned cold and focused—sharp like the edge of a blade tempered by years of quiet suffering.
"I hate war, but, I want to avenge my father! Destroying Star Luo, is the purpose of my existence!"
The room went cold. Juzi's eyes radiated so much hatred that for a moment, it wasn't a young woman sitting across from Huo Yuhao—it was a storm barely held in a human frame.
'I see. So that's why I felt a sense of connection to her, we're the same.' Huo Yuhao's thoughts were calm, as if he already knew about it.
As someone with a soul full of hatred, how could he not notice the look in her eyes when he mentioned he was from the Star Luo Empire? It was brief, but nothing could ever escape his eyes.
Juzi slowly closed her eyes and shook her head, the chilling bloodlust aura around her quickly faded. Her eyes took on a soft, fragile look—one that betrayed just how much effort it took to keep herself together.
"...If one day I would fight on a battlefield, I wish to die in your hands." She said, with a gentle smile.
"...."
Huo Yuhao didn't reply.
He let go of her hand and resumed cooking.
The fire under the pot crackled softly, a quiet sizzle filling the room—an ordinary sound in contrast to the weight of what she had just said.
He stirred the broth slowly, as if grounding himself in the simplicity of motion. While simultaneously turning the fishes in the pan, letting the golden oil bubble and hiss around them. The rich scent of soy glaze and herbs mingled with the broth's deep aroma, thickening the air with warmth.
Juzi didn't press him for a reply. She hadn't spoken those words expecting comfort or confirmation.
She continued looking at Huo Yuhao as he cooked.
It didn't take him long to finish.
With one final swirl of seasoning and a precise flick of the pan, he slid the fried fish onto a plate lined with crisp greens. The ramen was already plated—topped with golden-yolked eggs, scallions, and a deep amber broth that shimmered faintly.
He placed her bowl and plate before her.
Then he finally sat across from her, his own meal in hand and he clasped his hands.
"Itadakimasu!" He said.
"E-Eh?" Juzi tilted her head, confused.
Huo Yuhao shook his head. "It's a tradition from my village. It means 'I humbly receive' or 'let's eat'. Something we say before eating, to show gratitude for the food, and the effort that went into making it."
Juzi blinked.
"You don't have to do it," Huo Yuhao added with a small shrug, already picking up his chopsticks. "It's just a habit for me. C'mon. Eat."
She nodded and picked up her chopsticks, staring down at her meal.
Just from the appearance and smell alone was incredible. It was like a painting had been brought to life. The color of the broth glowed with a rich amber hue, swirling gently around perfectly cooked noodles. Thin slices of soul beast pork shimmered under the warm light, garnished with scallions. The fried fish glistened beside it—crispy, golden, and placed with an artisan's care.
It wasn't just food.
It was art.
'Alright. It looks and smells good, but in the end it's all about the taste.' Juzi gulped and took her first bite.
The moment it touched her tongue, something in her chest loosened. The warmth spread through her body like a slow, soothing flame. She closed her eyes—just for a moment—and was pulled back to a memory that she kept hidden in her heart.
Back when she was a little girl.
When she was at her happiest moment, with her mom and dad. As they ate dinner made by her father.
Sniff*
Juzi's eyes watered and slowly started spilling tears.
The salty burn behind her eyes had nothing to do with spice—it was the memory. It was grief, joy, and warmth colliding in a single moment too powerful to swallow.
She quickly wiped her face with her sleeve, cheeks flushed.
"This flavor, that's right... This flavor, I thought I would never... I would never taste it again! Wuuu... Never thought...! Wuuu... Dad's flavor...! Hng!" She sobbed as she continued eating.
"Mmm..."
Huo Yuhao stayed silent, letting her grieve in her own rhythm.
Tears streamed down Juzi's cheeks, but her hands didn't stop. Bite after bite, she ate through the sobs.
Time quietly passes and they both finished their meal.
Juzi set her chopsticks down slowly, her breathing still uneven but calmer now. Her eyes were red, her cheeks flushed—but there was a strange light in her expression.
"Huo Yuhao!"
"Yes?"
"Be my husband!"
Huo Yuhao blinked.
"I...."
Hiding behind the laboratory door, a head slowly peeked inside.
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AN: The greatest trait of Huo Yuhao from the original novel was — trauma dumping. Even if it were half-truths, he just couldn't help but share his tragic childhood to someone he just met as if he felt they had an instant connection. This is his talk-no-jutsu lol.